A Happy New Year

A Happy New Year

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NEWSJANUARY 09, 2018

A Happy New Year

A Happy New Year

New Year is traditionally a time to look forward, to make all those resolutions even if, in many cases at least, these only last until the end of the first week in January. Sometimes, though, it helps to look back a little, to remind ourselves of how far we have come, and to set in context the challenges we currently face.

When they met in March 1939, the Friends of the Whitworth Society, the name originally taken by the Friends of the Whitworth when it held its first meeting in 1933, talked about their hope for the future. Having grown very little, from 77 members in 1933 to 85 members in 1939, publicity was the first item on the agenda.

“It was suggested”, read the minutes,” that the Friends Society would benefit if it could be brought before the public in various ways…a musical evening should be given and the Gallery…Visits to historic houses or places of interest were also suggested.”

Sadly, when the Friends Society met again later in 1939, they had to record that the proposal for visits and concerts had to be postponed, “because of the war.” As we look forward to 2018, the current members of the Friends of the Whitworth, now a much larger group, can choose from a variety of visits to “historic houses or places of interest” as well as activities in the Gallery, and even a study tour to Kosovo. We feel that the Society of Friends members who met in that bleak time might have been proud of our efforts!

Our concert series, in collaboration with the Royal Northern College of Music, begins on Sunday 21st January and runs through till April on selected Sunday afternoons. You can find more details on our website or sign up for our special emailing list to receive a reminder and details of the performers and their programme. Just send us an email and we will make sure you are on the list or come to one of our concerts and sign up there.

New for 2017 was the successful launch of our Look Club, an informal gathering, rather like a Book Club, but with a visual focus, to give Friends a chance to share ideas and gain a deeper understanding of what’s on show-and sometimes behind the scenes-in the Gallery. We have also developed a range of merchandise, our beautiful silk scarves inspired by the trees in Whitworth Park, a Friends T shirt and, on sale in the shop, a mini print of one of our favourite works, Paul Klee’s Moon Over the Cottage. Look out for the scarves and T shirts at the Friends of the Whitworth stalls at some of the Gallery’s events. They make great gifts.

Of course, we still have work to do in order to encourage people to support the Gallery and to raise money for its various projects and purchases. We want to continue our very successful programmes and activities while looking to reach out to those members-and potential members!-who are not yet enjoying the benefits of their Friends of the Whitworth membership. We also want to find ways of attracting and engaging with younger people so that we leave our organisation in good hands for the future.

Depending, as we do, on the work of volunteers, and committing our resources, your subscriptions, to the Gallery, we cannot promise to do all the things that we might like, but we are always happy to consider suggestions, so please get in touch and let us know your thoughts.

In the meantime, we send you all good wishes for 2018.

New Year is traditionally a time to look forward, to make all those resolutions even if, in many cases at least, these only last until the end of the first week in January. Sometimes, though, it helps to look back a little, to remind ourselves of how far we have come, and to set in context the challenges we currently face.

When they met in March 1939, the Friends of the Whitworth Society, the name originally taken by the Friends of the Whitworth when it held its first meeting in 1933, talked about their hope for the future. Having grown very little, from 77 members in 1933 to 85 members in 1939, publicity was the first item on the agenda.

“It was suggested”, read the minutes,” that the Friends Society would benefit if it could be brought before the public in various ways…a musical evening should be given and the Gallery…Visits to historic houses or places of interest were also suggested.”

Sadly, when the Friends Society met again later in 1939, they had to record that the proposal for visits and concerts had to be postponed, “because of the war.” As we look forward to 2018, the current members of the Friends of the Whitworth, now a much larger group, can choose from a variety of visits to “historic houses or places of interest” as well as activities in the Gallery, and even a study tour to Kosovo. We feel that the Society of Friends members who met in that bleak time might have been proud of our efforts!

Our concert series, in collaboration with the Royal Northern College of Music, begins on Sunday 21st January and runs through till April on selected Sunday afternoons. You can find more details on our website or sign up for our special emailing list to receive a reminder and details of the performers and their programme. Just send us an email and we will make sure you are on the list or come to one of our concerts and sign up there.

New for 2017 was the successful launch of our Look Club, an informal gathering, rather like a Book Club, but with a visual focus, to give Friends a chance to share ideas and gain a deeper understanding of what’s on show-and sometimes behind the scenes-in the Gallery. We have also developed a range of merchandise, our beautiful silk scarves inspired by the trees in Whitworth Park, a Friends T shirt and, on sale in the shop, a mini print of one of our favourite works, Paul Klee’s Moon Over the Cottage. Look out for the scarves and T shirts at the Friends of the Whitworth stalls at some of the Gallery’s events. They make great gifts.

Of course, we still have work to do in order to encourage people to support the Gallery and to raise money for its various projects and purchases. We want to continue our very successful programmes and activities while looking to reach out to those members-and potential members!-who are not yet enjoying the benefits of their Friends of the Whitworth membership. We also want to find ways of attracting and engaging with younger people so that we leave our organisation in good hands for the future.

Depending, as we do, on the work of volunteers, and committing our resources, your subscriptions, to the Gallery, we cannot promise to do all the things that we might like, but we are always happy to consider suggestions, so please get in touch and let us know your thoughts.

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT WE ARE DISPLAYING ONE OF YOUR IMAGES, OR ANIMAGE OF YOURSELF AND WOULD LIKE US TO REMOVE IT, PLEASE CONTACTUS LETTING US KNOW EXACTLY WHICH IMAGE(S). WE WILL BE MORE THANHAPPY TO FULFILL YOUR REQUEST.